2003 12th Panamerican Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering. Cambridge (USA) 1 179-184.

Characteristic of a expansive soil under climatic effect

Característica de un suelo expansivo bajo efecto del clima
José Maria Justino da Silva
Department of Civil Engineering, Federal University of Pernambuco, Brazil
Fernando A. Medeiros Marinho
Department of Foundations and Structures, University of São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract
This paper presents an investigation related to the behaviour of potentially expansive clay, under unsaturated condition,
associated to climatic effects. The studies include site and laboratory investigation. The experimental site is located in
Pernambuco State coast, in Brazil. The soil of the region is originated from the weathering of the Maria Farinha formation.
The suction was monitored using undisturbed specimens obtained at different periods during three years. The specimens were
also used to obtain the soil water retention curves. The hysteretic behaviour of the soil in the field could also be evaluated. The
suction measurements were made using the filter paper technique. Displacements were measured at the surface and at different
depths. The objective of the paper is to present the geotechnical characterization of the site at the light of the unsaturated soil
mechanics associated with measurements of volumetric change and atmospheric water balance.

Resumen
Esto artículo presenta una investigación del comportamiento de una arcilla potencialmente expansiva bajo
condición no saturada, asociada con efectos climáticos. El local estudiado esta situado en la costa de Pernambuco,
Brasil. El suelo de la región es consecuencia de la intemperización de rocas de la Formación Maria Farinha. La
succión fuera medida utilizando muestras inalteradas obtenidas en diferentes períodos durante tres años. El
comportamiento de histéresis del suelo en el campo puede también ser evaluado. Las succiones medidas fueran
determinadas utilisando la técnica del papel filtro. Los movimientos fueran medidos en la superfície y en diferentes
profundidades. El objetivo del artículo es presentar la caracterización del local bajo punto de vista de la mecánica
del suelo no saturado, asociado con medidas de cambios volumétricas y atmosféricas.

water could be identified in some periods during the time of

1 INTRODUCTION
Clay materials present the ability to change volume due to
change in stress state and also to change in water content. A
significant volume change can be associated to heave or
shrinkage depending on the absorption or lost of water. The
consequences of that volume change under light buildings
have been a problem in many parts of the world. The
association of the volume change behaviour with the
climatic condition is the main focus of this paper.
The behaviour of an unsaturated expansive
soil, subject to water content changes is directly related to
the transference of water between the soil and the
atmosphere. Many aspects of this behaviour are related to
the atmospheric water
balance and also to the presence or not of the water table. In
the present case the water table is not present, but perched
the study.
To establish the influence of the climatic conditions with
the behaviour of the expansive soils the site was monitored
during three wetting and drying periods, along of three
years. The monitoring of the displacement and suction
measurements, associated with the local water balance
brought some light to the interpretation of the problem
involves a great number of houses located in the area.
Structures founded directly in the active zone of the
expansive soil profile can suffer damages due to variation of
volume of the soil, as a consequence of the seasonal water
content changes. Therefore, it is necessary to understand
how local environmental conditions affect the soil profile
behaviour.
2003 12th Panamerican Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering. Cambridge (USA) 1 179-184.
2 SOIL AND LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL parameters obtained. The first aspect to be considered is the
CHARACTERISTICS water content and suction profiles, following data related to
the displacement of the soil with depth. The retention
characteristics of the soil profile are given, relating the water
The soil profile can be broadly divided into three layers content with suction. An association of the suction profile
as described below. with the vertical displacement is also presented.
 Layer 1 - It corresponds to the topsoil with a thickness
of about 0.3m. It is a clayey silt with organic material. Table 2. Relevant environmental aspects.
In this layer perched water is found due to the presence Localization Latitude 7° 55’ 35” e
of fissures. Longitude 34° 50’ 49”
 Layer 2 – It has approximately 3 meters thick. It is a Climatic definition As’ (according to
silty clay with a variety of colours. It is classified as a Köppen) – humid tropical
residual soil, but with a non-discernible structure. Annual precipitation 2052mm (Max) and
 Layer 3 – The soil is a silty clay with uniform colour. It 1127mm (Min)
can be identified some fragments of the parent rock. Average temperature 26.3° C
Although the layers described above can be visually Average relative 75.6 %
identified their characteristics are very similar. The main humidity
characteristics of the soil are presented in Table 1. Average Wind speed 1.6 m/s
The local environmental characteristics are presented in Average Annual 1435 mm
Table 2. It has to be pointed out that the seasons can be evaporation
divided into two: the wet season and the dry season. Usually
the dry season starts in September and ends in April and the
wet season is from May to August. 3.1 Gravimetric water content and suction profiles

The water content profiles, at different times during the

3 RESULTS AND ANALYSIS years, are presented in Figure 2. The water content
fluctuation zone (active zone) reached approximately 3.5m
deep. It can be observed that the movement of water at the
The data related to the precipitation during the three years active zone presents an expected response to the dry and wet
(from 1998 to 2000) of study is shown in Figure 1. It can be period of the years. This is a reflection of the water balance
seen that the precipitation is badly distributed during the wet that allows a downward movement of water in the profile.
season (may to august).
The suction profile was obtained at different times during
Table 1. Characterization of the soil. the period under investigation down to 4m. Undisturbed
Sand content 8% samples were obtained periodically and the suction was
Silt content 22% measured using the filter paper technique. The specimens
Clay content 70% for suction measurement were taken using a Shelby tube.
% < 2m 60% Figure 3 presents some of the results obtained showing the
Liquid limit (wl) 86% suction profiles for different times of the investigated years.
Plasticity limit 30% Below 3.5m depth the matrix suction did not vary, even
(wp) for periods that the climatic condition were very distinct
Plasticity index 56% (e.g. December of 2000, a dry period and January of 2000, a
(Ip) wet period).
Activity (Ia) 0,75 < Ia < 1,25
Unified CH – Inorganic clay of high
classification plasticity 3.2 Vertical displacement profiles
Catium exchange 25 a 33 meq/100g
capacity Measurements of displacement with depth were
Soil water pH 3,9 performed using plates at 10 different depths. Two plates
Clay minerals Kaolinite (1:1); mica e were set up on the surface and the remaining ones at the
smectite (2:1) following depths: 0.25m; 0.50m; 0.75m; 1.00m; 1.25m;
1.50m; 2.00m; 2.50m; 3.00m and 4.00m, at different
The presentation of the data and its analysis is divided locations. Figure 4 presents some of the displacement
into four items that consolidate the information related to the
2003 12th Panamerican Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering. Cambridge (USA) 1 179-184.
measurement with depth at eight different days, covering the
dry and wet seasons of the three years.
The water content path may not follow the same direction
along the soil profile. As a consequence some layers may be Gra v im e t ric w a t e r c o n t e n t (% )
expanding while others may be contracting. This may
induce the formation of cracks in the soil profile. 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40

D a ily R a in fa ll - 1998 -1
-2
160

D e p t h (m )
140 -3
R a in fa ll (m m )

120 -4
100
-5
80
60 -6
40 -7
20
-8
0
0 5 /1 4 /9 8 - d r y
125

156

187

218

249

280

311

342
32

63

94
1

1 0 /2 7 /9 8 - w e t
T im e (d a y s ) 1998 1 2 /0 1 /9 8 - d r y

D a ily R a in fa ll- 1999 Gra v im e t ric w a t e r c o n t e n t (% )

160
140 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
R a in fa ll (m m )

120 0
100
80 -1
60 -2
D e p t h (m )

40
-3
20
0 -4
-5
125

156

187

218

249

280

311

342
32

63

94
1

-6
T im e (d a y s )
-7
-8
D a ily R a in fa ll - 2000
0 2 /0 9 /9 9 - d r y
160 0 5 /2 8 /9 9 - w e t
140 1999 1 1 /1 1 /9 9 - d r y
R a in fa ll (m m )

120
100
Gra v im e t ric w a t e r c o n t e n t (% )
80
60
40 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
20
0 0
-1
1

105

131

157

183

209

235

261

287
27

53

79

-2
D e p t h (m )

T im e (d a y s )
-3
-4
Figure 1. Pluviometric data between 1998-2000. Justino da
-5
Silva (2001).
-6
-7
The observed heave of the soil surface is a consequence
-8
of the phenomena that is occurring below the surface, which
0 3 /1 2 /0 0 - d r y
is in turn an effect of the atmospheric water balance 0 7 /1 2 /0 0 - w e t
associated with the soil profile characteristics. Any analysis 2000 1 1 /0 1 /0 0 - d r y

requires the knowledge of the active zone and the soil

Figure 2. Gravimetric water content profile for the period
suction profile variation in that zone.
between 1998 and 2000.
2003 12th Panamerican Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering. Cambridge (USA) 1 179-184.
were determined. For the drying path the specimens were
Matric Suction (kPa)
allowed to dry in the laboratory environment and for the
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000
wetting path the specimens were allowed to absorb vapour
0 from hot water.

-0,5
Vertical Displacement (mm)
-1 -60 -30 0 30 60
0
-1,5
Depth (m)

-0.5
-2 -1
05/28/99
-1.5

Depth (m)
-2,5 09/10/99
-2
01/05/00
-3 -2.5 05/14/98 - dry
03/12/00
10/29/98 - wet
-3,5 07/12/00 -3
12/03/98 - dry
11/01/00 -3.5 02/12/99 - dry
-4
-4 05/25/99 - wet
Figure 3. Suction profiles from May 1999 to November 03/09/00 - dry
-4.5
2000. 07/10/00 - wet
10/30/00 - wet
It can be observed in Figure 4 that the most significant
movements occurred below 2.5m from the ground surface. Figure 4. Vertical displacement profiles.
Since the soil in the active zone has low water conductivity,
a direct correlation between the precipitation and the volume Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 present part of the data obtained for
change may not apply. The run-off and the delay of the the soil profile. The data is a good representation of the
wetting front associated with the atmospheric water balance characteristics of the soil in active zone and also below it.
need to be considered all together in the analysis. By using the relation between degree of saturation and
The data presented in Figure 4 show that there is a suction the air entry suction inferred is about 1000kPa. The
relation between the total heave or shrinkage and the dry air entry suction correspond to the suction where the
and wet periods. The response of the soil is quicker at the specimen dessaturate. From Figure 3 one can observe that
superficial part of the active zone, while it is slower at the the suction at the end of the active zone was, most of the
end of the active zone. Although it is not considered here the time, 1000kPa. Only during dry period of the year 2000 the
water evaporation is an important factor to be considered in suction in the active zone was higher than the air entry
the analysis. suction.
It was also observed that the time response of the ground 1.1 1.1
1 1
to the climatic conditions depends on the presence or not of 0.9 0.9
0.8 0.8
e

cracks. The cracks are usually between 0.75 and 1.5m deep. 0.7 0.7
0.6 0.6
0.5 0.5
0.4 0.4

3.3 Soil water retention curves 100

90
100
90
80 80
70 70
60 60
The relation between the amount of water and the suction
S (%)

50 50
40 40
has been proved to be a fundamental tool for the 30 30
20 20
interpretation of the unsaturated soil behaviour. However, it 10 10
0 0
is also important to consider the volume change of the soil 0 10 20 30 40
60
Water content - w (% )
and how it is affected by suction. The results presented here 50
0.7-1.0m
try to fully characterize the soil in terms of the influence of Drying 40
 w (%)

Wetting 30
suction on the water retention and volume change.
20
The characteristics of the soil in terms of water retention 10
and volume change as function of suction were obtained 0
10 100 1000 10000 100000
from undisturbed samples and the suction were measured Suction (kPa)
using the filter paper technique. The wetting and drying path
2003 12th Panamerican Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering. Cambridge (USA) 1 179-184.
Figure 5. Drying and wetting behaviour of specimens from in Figure 9. Although the data refer only to the year 2000 it
0.7m depth. can gives a “clear picture” of the general behaviour
observed.
The drying and wetting curves for the soils shown in The suction profile from January to March represents a
Figures 5 to 8 did not presented any significant hysterisis. It drying path. It indicates a suction change of the order of
should be mentioned that the process of wetting may affect 4000kPa at 1m depth. The vertical displacement registered
that the hysteretic behaviour. during this period was less than 10mm of shrinkage at the
same depth. A wetting path is observed between March and
1.1 1.1 May of the same year. The response of the ground to the
1 1
0.9 0.9 wetting suggests that a change in suction from 5000kPa to
0.8 0.8 zero gives about 10mm of heave. The monitoring of suction
e

0.7 0.7
0.6 0.6 from May to July showed no change in suction along the
0.5 0.5
0.4 0.4 profile. However a heave of about 30mm was observed.
100 100 This behaviour can only be explained considering that the
90 90
80 80 sample used for suction measurement was obtained near an
70 70
60 60 area with perched water.
S (%)

50 50
40 40
30 30
20 20
10 10 1.1 1.1
0 0 1 1
0 10 20 30 40 0.9 0.9
60 0.8 0.8

e
Water content - w (% )
50 0.7 0.7
1.3-1.6m 0.6 0.6
Drying 40
 w (%)

0.5 0.5
Wetting 30 0.4 0.4
20
100 100
10 90 90
80 80
0 70 70
10 100 1000 10000 100000 60 60
S (% )

50 50
Suction (kPa) 40 40
30 30
Figure 6. Drying and wetting behaviour of specimens from 20 20
10 10
1.3m depth. 0 0
0 10 20 30 40
60
Water content - w (% )
50
1.1 1.1 3.65-3.90m
1 1 Drying 40
 w (% )
0.9 0.9 Wetting 30
0.8 0.8
e

20
0.7 0.7
0.6 0.6 10
0.5 0.5 0
0.4 0.4 10 100 1000 10000 100000
Suction (kPa)
100 100
90 90
80 80 Figure 8. Drying and wetting behaviour of specimens from
70 70
60 60 3.65m depth.
S (%)

50 50
40 40
30 30
20 20
10 10
0 0
0 10 20 30 40 4 FINAL REMARKS
60
Water content - w (% )
50
2.0-2.3m
Drying 40 The understandings of the phenomena that induce volume
 w (%)

Wetting 30 change in potentially expansive soil in the field require more

20
investigation. The movement of the water into the soil and
10
0 from the soil, via precipitation and evaporation, respectively
10 100 1000 10000 100000
are the main aspects to be studied.
Suction (kPa)
The monitoring of the suction using undisturbed
Figure 7. Drying and wetting behaviour of specimens from
specimens helps the interpretation of the movements
2.0m depth.
observed. However, it is necessary to use a method that can
be placed together with the system for displacement
measurement.
3.4 Relation between suction and the vertical
The use of the filter paper technique for measuring the
displacement
suction in the undisturbed specimen proved to be adequate
for laboratory measurement. The procedure used for the
The observed relations between the matrix suction and
determination of the drying and wetting paths of the soil
the vertical displacement along the soil profile is presented
2003 12th Panamerican Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering. Cambridge (USA) 1 179-184.
water retention curve (SWRC) gave reasonable results. In
particular the wetting path using water vapour. The
determination of the SWRC is paramount for defining the
range of suction that the effective stress principle can still be
applied. The suction at the air entry point was approximately
1000kPa regardless the depth of the specimen.

S u c t io n (kP a ) Ve rt ic a l d is p la c e m e n t
(m m )
0 2000 4000 6000 -7 5 -5 0 -2 5 0

0 0
D e p t h (m )

-1 -1
-2 -2
-3 -3
0 1 /0 5 /0 0 0 1 /0 5 /0 0
-4 0 3 /1 2 /0 0 -4
0 3 /1 2 /0 0

S u c t io n (kP a ) Ve rt ic a l d is p la c e m e n t
(m m )
0 5000 10000 -6 0 -4 0 -2 0 0

0 0
D e p t h (m )

-1 -1
-2 -2
-3 -3
0 3 /1 2 /0 0 0 3 /1 2 /0 0
-4 0 5 /0 2 /0 0 -4 0 5 /0 2 /0 0

S u c t io n (kP a ) Ve rt ic a l d is p la c e m e n t
(m m )
0 1000 2000 -6 0 -3 0 0 30

0 0
D e p t h (m )

-1 -1
-2 -2
-3 -3
0 5 /0 2 /0 0 0 5 /0 2 /0 0
-4 0 7 /1 2 /0 0 -4 0 7 /1 2 /0 0

Figure 9. Suction and displacement profiles in the year

2000.

The depth of the active zone found for the investigated

site was 3.5m. This zone could be identified not only using
water content but also suction and vertical displacements.
Although the atmospheric water balance is directly
related to the heave and shrinkage behaviour of the soil
profile, a time delay is observed when the data is interpreted
using precipitation information. It is necessary to include
evaporation data to the analysis.

REFERENCES

Justino da Silva, J. M. (2001). “Variação volumétrica de

uma argila contráctil-expansiva não saturada submetida a
diferentes condições climáticas” Doctoral thesis,
University of São Paulo, São Paulo. 249 pp.